Ice-cutting machine.



F. M. HAMLIN.

ICE CUTTING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED FEB. 14 1912.

1, 1 46, 1 56. Patented July 13, 1915.

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F. M. HAMLIN.

ICE CUTTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 14. 1912.

Patented July 13, 1915.

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FRANK M. HAMLIN, OF LAKE VILLA, ILLINOIS.

ICE-CUTTING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 13, 1915.

Application filed February 14, 1912. Serial No. 677,642.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, FRANK M. HAMLIN, citizen of the United States, residing at Lake Villa, in the county of Lake and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ice-Cutting Machines, of which the following is a specification, reference being had thereinto the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to an improvement in ice cutting machines and more particularly to machines of this character which are designed to cut intersecting grooves in the upper surface of the ice which extend only partially therethrough, the detachment of the cakes of ice being accomplished by splitting the ice in continuation of the grooves thus formed.

With the machines of this character heretofore known to the prior art, the practice has been to score the ice in the field, and then to convey the scored ice rafts to the point of storage where they are broken into blocks. This practice has proven unsatisfactory in some respects, however, in that the ice rafts frequently have to be floated a considerable distance to the point of storage,

during which time the cuts previously formed therein become filled with water and slush which. soon freezes, thus making the task of breaking the ice rafts up into small cakes very difficult.

One of the primary objects of the present invention is the provision of an ice machine which will overcome this difficulty, the ice cutting machine being fixedly supported in the water adjacent the point of'storage and being so constructed that the unscored .ice rafts, which have been previously cut, may be floated past cutting knives or saws to effect the desired scoring thereof. With a' machine of this character, the scores do not have time to fill and freeze up so that the ice can be readily broken up into small blocks. A further object of the invention is the provision in a machine of this character, of cutting means for scoring the block in com bination with means for engaging the ice to feed the same past the cutting means.

Other objects of the invention will be apparent from the detailed description, when read in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein a convenient embodiment of the invention is illustrated, and wherein like character)? reference refer to similar parts in the several views.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a top plan view of the improved ice machine; Fig. 2 is a rear elevation thereof; Fig. 8 is a longitudinal section on line 33 of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a detail view showing the manner of supporting the cutter frame between the supporting frames; Fig. 5 is a fragmentary side elevation of one of the feed wheel frames, showing in side elevation the mechanism for varying the speed of the feed wheels; Fig. 6 is a detail view showing the manner of securing thecutters to the cutter shaft, and Fig. 7 is a cross section through one of the feed wheel, frames showing in front elevation the mechanism for varying the speed of the feed wheels.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, A and A designate two parallel supporting frames which are adapted to be fixedly supported in the water adjacent the point where the cut ice is to be stored. A convenient method of supporting theframes A and A is to support the same on piles, although said frames may be supported in any other desired manner. The frames A and A are provided with side rails a and a which are positioned above the main portions of the frames, which are conveniently covered by platforms to afford a support for the workmen.

Positioned between the frames A and A of the machine is a cutter frame B, which is substantially rectangular in shape and the base of which is conveniently formed of metal beams suitably connected and braced. Extending upwardly from the rear of the cutter frame B are a plurality of uprights b to the upper ends of which is secured a transversely extending beam B. The beam i B exceeds in length the width of the body of the cutter frame B, so that while the body of the cutter frame is positioned between the frames A and A of the machine, the ends of the beam B which is carried thereby overlie the side rails a and a of the frames A and A. To add rigidity to the cutter frame diagonal braces are conveniently positioned between the beam B and the beam -which forms the rear side of the base of the cutter frame. Diagonal braces are also preferably extended from the uprights 6 adj aeent the tops thereof to the body of the cutter frame B. Journaled in suitable bear,

ngs rame and positioned at one side thereof above the base is a power shaft C which is of a length to project over the side rail a of the frame A and is also journaled in a suitable bearing 0 secured to said side rail. Journaled in suitable bearings carried by the cutter frame at the opposite side thereof and in axial alinement with the shaft C is a shaft C which. is of a length to project over the side rail a of the frame A and is journaled in a suitable bearing 0 secured thereon.

From the construction thus described it will be seen that the cutter frame is free to be swung about the shafts C and C, thus enabling the front end thereof to be raised or lowered to any desired extent. As the cutter frame and the parts carried thereby are of consicerable weight, I have conveniently provided means for relieving the shafts C and C of the weight thereof. To this end there are mounted upon the side rails a and a of the frames A and A, rigid members D having curved outer surfaces which are concentric with the shafts C and C. Carried by the projecting ends of the beam B of the cutter frame B are shoes D which are provided with curved faces which are adapted to move over the surfaced surfaces of the members D when the cutter frame is raised and lowered. on the shafts C and C the shoes D are preferably adjustably supported so that they may be caused to engage the curved surfaces of the members D with any desired degree of pressure.

In the embodiment of the invention illusratec in the drawings, the shoes are slidably mounted in suitable bearings carried by the projecting ends of the beam B and follower screws D are provided which are threaded in bearings carried by the beam B and the lower ends of which are adapted to contact with the rear surfaces of the faces of the shoes D. From this construction it will be seen that by adjusting the screws D the shoes D will be caused to engage the curved surfaces of the members D with any desired degree of pressure.

E designates the cutter shaft which is positioned adjacent the front end of the cutter frame B and extends transversely thereof, said shaft being supported in bearings e which may be of any suitable type and which are secured in any suitable manner upon the base or main portion of the carrier frame B. Carried by the cutter shaft E are a plurality of rotary cutters E. Any number of cutters E may be employed according to the number of cuts or kerfs which it is desired to make in the ice float, such cutters being generally arranged at equidistant points on the shaft E. In practice I prefer to form the shaft E of a plu carried by the rear end of the cutter To relieve the strains rality of sections E and to secure the cutters E between flanged disks E which are keyed upon the shaft sections. When this construction is utilized the joints between the shaft sections are located intermediate the ends of one of said collars, so that the alinement of the shaft as a whole will be preserved.

Secured in any suitable manner to one end of the shaft E is a sprocket wheel F which is engaged by a sprocket chain F, which runs over a sprocket wheel F loosely mounted on the power shaft C. Associated with the sprocket wheel E is a clutch E which may be of any suitable construction and is adapted to be actuated in any well known manner to cause the sprocket wheel F to rotate with the power shaft C or to remain idle.

Rigidly supported upon the side walls a and a of the frames A and A and overlying the front portion of the cutter frame B is a beam G, which is conveniently formed of opposed channel irons connected by suitable transverse members. Journaled in suitable bearings carried by the beam G and extending longitudinally thereof is a shaft G upon which are secured a plurality of winding drums G carrying cables G the lower ends of which are adapted to be connected in any suitable manner to the forward portions of the base of the cutter frame B. It will thus be seen that by the rotation of the shaft G the forward end of the cutter frame B may be raised or lowered to any desired extent. One end of the shaft G extends over the frame A. and haskeyed or otherwise rigidly secured thereon a worm wheel G Underlying the worm wheel G and meshing therewith is a worm H which is carried by a shaft H which is journaled in suitable bearings which are conveniently carried by the side members of the beam Connected to one end of the shaft H by a universal joint of any well known construction and extending rearwardly therefrom is a shaft I the rear end of which is supported in suitable bearings formed in a frame I, which frame is provided with a pair of laterally spaced arms I which loosely engage the portion of the power shaft C which projects over the frame A. Secured to the free end of the shaft 1 is a friction wheel I which is normally positioned between and out of contact with a pair of separated friction disks I which are secured to the power shaft C between the arms I of the frame I. By shifting the frame I laterally, the friction wheel I may be caused to engage with either of the friction disks I thus enabling the shaft I to be driven in either direction from the power shaft 0 and causing the winding or unwinding of the cables G on the drums G carried by the shaft G. As worm gearing is used to drive the shaft G,

it will be obvious that after the cutter frame has been adjusted to the desired elevation it will remain locked in its adjusted position.

J ournaled in suitable bearings secured to the base portion of the cutter frame B is a shaft K which extends transversely of said base portion and is positioned adjacent the rear edge thereof. Carried by the shaft K is a sprocket wheel K which is engaged by a sprocket chain K which also runs over a sprocket wheel K secured in any suitable manner upon the power shaft C so that the shaft K will rotate with the power shaft.

L L designate a pair of open frames which are loosely supported adjacent their rear ends upon the shaft K and the forward ends of which are conveniently reduced in width and project between pairs of the cutting disks E heretofore described. Any suitable means may be utilized for holding the frames against movement longitudinally'of the shaft K. The frames L L' and the parts carried thereby are identical in construction and it will therefore be necessary to describe in detailbut one of said frames and its parts. Journaled in suitable bearings formed in the forward or reduced part of the open frame L is a transversely-extending shaft L, the ends of which project beyond the frame and have secured thereon feed wheels L which are provided with a plurality of teeth upon the peripheries thereof. Secured upon the shaft L intermediate the sides of the open frame 'L is a worm wheel L J ournaled in suitable bearings carried by the open frame L and extending longitudinally of said frame is a shaft M which: carries at one end a worm M which is adaptand a spring m which encircles the shaft M is interposed between said friction disk and an abutment which embraces the shaft M and is longitudinally adjustable in the frame L.

Means are conveniently provided for adjusting the friction wheel N longitudinally.

of the shaft K to vary the point of frictional contact with the friction disk M In the embodiment of the invention illustrated the means provided for this purpose comprises an upwardly extending frame 0 which is supported on the side bars of the frame L and is positioned over the portion of the shaft K which is included between the side bars of the frame L. Slidably mounted in the frame 0 is a-bar O which is positioned directly over the shaft K and is parallel thereto. Depending from the bar 0 is a fork 0 which is adapted to loosely engage a grooved collar carried by the friction wheel N. Pivoted in the upper portion of 'the frame is an operating lever 0 the lower end of which is'loosely connected in any suitable manner to the reciprocatingbar O, so that by manipulating said operating lever, the traveling bar may be shifted, and the friction wheel'moved to any desired position on the shaft K. j J

.Extending downwardly from the inner sides of the side sills a and a of the frames are a plurality of links P, the lower ends of which are pivotally connected to elongated gage bars P which are adapted to lie alongside of the sections A and A of the machine. The gage bars P are conveniently formed of angle iron and the links P are of such a length that when theyare in their vertical positions, the vertical flange of the gage bars 1? will extend down into the water. Ordinarily but one gage bar is used and when one is in use, the other can be swung up free of the water, any suitable means being utilized for retaining the bar in its elevated position.

- In-use the machine is stationed near the plant where the block ice is to be stored. The cutter frame B is first secured at the desired elevation to cause the cutters to cut grooves of the desired depth in the ice. The large ice floats which have been previously out are directed between the frames A and A and against one of the gage bars P". As

speed. It will be noted that the feed wheels are carried by frames which are movable independently of the frame which carries the cutters so that said wheels are adapted to accommodate themselves to any irregularities in the surface of the'ice raft. After the entire ice raft has been scored in the manner above described, in one direction, it

may be turned and passed through another machineto cause the scoring thereof in the other direction, or if but a single machine is used, the .cutter frame may be elevated, the ice raft passed'thercbeneath and turned, and again passed through the machine after the cutter frame has been lowered While a convenient embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, it will be understood that many changes maybe made to the particular form and construction therein shown, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim 1. In an, ice cutting machine, a pair of supporting frames adapted to be fixedly supported adjacent the water, a cutter frame positioned between said supporting frames, c

pivotal connections between the rear end of said cutter frame and said supporting frames, a beam connecting said supporting frames and overlying the forward portion of said cutter frame, a shaft journaled in said beam and extending longitudinally thereof, a plurality of winding drums carried by said shaft, cables carried by said winding drums, and having their free ends connected to the forward end of said cutter frame, and means for rotating said sh aft.

2. In an ice cutting machine, a pair of laterally spaced supporting frames, a cutter frame positioned therebetween, means for pivotally supporting the rear end of said cutter frame from said supporting frames, said means including a rotatable power shaft, a cutter shaft journaled in the for? ward portions of said cutter frame and extending transversely thereof, gearing between said cutter shaft and said power shaft, a beam connecting said supporting frames and overlying the forward portion of said cutter frame, a winding shaft journaled in said beam, adjustable connections between said winding shaft and the forward end of said cutter frame, and gearing for connecting said winding shaft to said power shaft.

3. In an ice cutting machine, a pair of laterally spaced supporting frames, a cutter frame-positioned therebetween, pivotal connections between one end of said cutter frame and said supporting frames, and means for relieving the said pivotal connections of the weight of said cutter frame, said means comprising coiiperating-engaging surfaces carried by the supporting frames and the adjacent portions of the cutter frame and arranged concentrically to the pivotal connection between the supporting frames and said cutter frame- I. In an ice cutting machine, a pair of laterally spaced supporting frames, a cutter frame positioned between said supporting frames, pivotal connections between said cutter frame and said supporting frames, means for relieving said pivotal connec tions of the weight of said cutter frame, said. means comprising curved surfaces carried by the supporting frames and arranged concentric to the pivotal connections between said supporting frames and the cutter frame, and shoes carried by the cutter frame and engaging said curved surfaces.

5. In an ice cutting machine, a pair of laterally spaced supporting frames, a cutter frame positioned between said sup porting frames, pivotal connections between said cutter frame and said supporting frames, means for relieving said pivotal connections of the weight of said cutter frame, said means comprising curved surfaces carried by the supporting frames and arranged concentric to the pivotal connections between said supportingframes and the cutter frame, shoes movably supported in said cutter frame and adapted to engage said curved surfaces, and means for adjusting said shoes.

6. In an ice cutting machine, a supporting frame, a cutter frame pivotally connected thereto and adapted to overlie the water, means for adjusting said cutter frame vertically, a transversely disposed cutter shaft journaled in the forward portion of such cutter frame, a plurality of cutters carried by said cutter shaft, a transversely extending shaft journaled in the rear portion of the cutter frame, a frame loosely mounted on said last mentioned shaft, and extending forwardly into proximity to the cutter shaft, a feed wheel rotatably supported in the forward portion of said frame, and means for driving said feed wheel including a shaft journaled in said frame and extending longitudinally thereof, a friction disk carried by said shaft, friction wheel mounted upon the feed shaft and engaging said friction disk, and means for rotating the cutter and feed shafts.

7, In an apparatus for grooving ice, a supporting frame adapted to be fixedly supported adjacent the water, a rotary cutter supported from said frame, said cutter being so positioned that the lower edge thereof will project beneath the surface of the water adjacent the supporting frame, means for rotating the cutter, and means for feeding a floating body of ice in the water beneath said cutter to groove the upper surface thereof.

8. In a device of the class described, means for engaging a block of floating ice and transporting the same upon the surface of the water, and one or more stationary cutters located adjacent to the path of said block adapted to operate upon said block as it is carried past said cutters by said transporting means.

9. In a device of the class described, means for engaging a block of floating ice and transporting the same upon the surface s of the water, and one or more rotary saws located adjacent to the path of said block and adapted to operate upon said block when said block is carried past said saws by said transporting means.

10. In a device of the class described, an endless conveyor adapted to engage a block of floating ice and transport the same upon the surface of the water, and stationary cutters located adjacent to the path of said block adapted to operate upon said block as it is carried past upon said conveyer.

11. In a device of the class described, a channel provided With side Walls, means 5 for engaging a block of floating ice and transporting the same through said channel upon the surface of the Water, means for guiding said block in said channel, and one or more stationary cutters located in said channel and adapted to operate upon said 10 block as it is carried past said cutters by said transporting means.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

FRANK M. HAMLIN. \Vitnesses WILLIAM H. MILLER, NORMAN BURNETT.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0. 

